One-Party Rule

Raleigh has never seen this kind of one-party control.   Hold on, you say – especially my Republican friends: Democrats had one-party control for over 100 years.   No, not like this.   For most of those years, the Democratic Party was two parties. Think Terry Sanford and I. Beverly Lake. Or Jim Hunt and…

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In All of America…

Up in Washington, Senate Leader Harry Reid and House Leader John Boehner and a handful of politicians have been sequestered in secret meetings, trying to agree on a solution to one of Washington’s most burning problems: How to exempt Congressmen and their staffs from ObamaCare.   Then, to their surprise, word of the meetings leaked…

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Pay to Play, the Sequel

Within just a few days last week, the Perdue campaign-fund serial wrapped up, Sweepstakesgate ramped up and Governor McCrory cleaned house at the Board of Elections.   Grab a big bag of popcorn and settle in. This will take a while.   Especially since a majority of the previous board called for an investigation. And especially…

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What Would Jamie Do?

If you need comfort or inspiration, take an hour to watch the moving memorial service for Jamie Kirk Hahn. If you’re pressed for time, watch Nation Hahn’s remarkable eulogy (at 34:00) and Anthony Quillar’s powerful rendition of the Lord’s Prayer (1:04).   Looking at the oversized portrait in the sanctuary, you’re overwhelmed by the impact…

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Worrying About Primaries

A legislator looked at a bill, winched, looked at another legislator and said, ‘Well, if I don’t vote for it I guess I’ll land in a primary.’   ‘You think,’ the second legislator said, ‘that Republicans in your district are for people carrying guns in bars?’ The bill allowed people carry guns in bars, restaurants…

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Jamie Kirk Hahn

Absolute good met absolute evil in a quiet Raleigh home Monday evening. Early Wednesday morning, Jamie Hahn lost her fight to live.   Her husband Nation and her family are devastated. But, as always happens at times like this, the best in people comes out. All day Tuesday, friends streamed into WakeMed to do what…

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Got Him, The Sequel

Once again jubilant Americans take to the streets to celebrate the end of a terrorist. Crowds cheer police officers and military personnel. Fans at ball games chant “USA, USA!”   Last time it was a diabolical international terror mastermind hiding in an expansive compound right under the noses of the Pakistani military. This time it…

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‘I Am The Senator’

Dwane Powell’s return to the N&O captured in one cartoon – a depiction of the Republican elephant gone wild – what thousands of words fail to describe.   (Congratulations, incidentally, to Powell on being selected for the N.C. Journalism Hall of Fame.)   Even a Republican TAPster wrote: “This cartoon just about sums it up.…

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School Daze

The Republicans’ education agenda finally comes into focus: It’s about creating a market for private enterprise. They want to privatize Medicaid and privatize the Department of Commerce, so why not privatize schools?   It’s the only thing that makes sense. You might be wondering: How do they propose to make public schools better when they…

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Power of the Saving Perception?

Last week Gary thoughtfully wrote a squib (below) urging people to visit young Thomas Mills’ new website PoliticsNC – so I did. And got a surprise. Young Mr. Mills was – genially – taking me to task for writing how the Democrats passing voter laws (over the years) to elect Democrats, had led to Republicans…

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